Lens driving device, camera module, and optical device

ABSTRACT

The present embodiment relates to a lens driving device comprising: a housing; a bobbin disposed inside the housing; and a lower elastic member provided on the lower side of the bobbin and coupled to the bobbin and to the housing, wherein the lower elastic member comprises a first outer portion, which is coupled to the housing, a second outer portion, which is coupled to the housing and is spaced from the first outer portion, a first inner portion, which is coupled to the bobbin, a second inner portion, which is coupled to the bobbin and is spaced from the first inner portion, a first elastic portion, which connects the first outer portion and the first inner portion, a second elastic portion, which connects the second outer portion and the second inner portion, and an inner connecting portion, which connects the first inner portion and the second inner portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/453,602, filed Nov. 4, 2021; which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/747,864, filed Jan. 21, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No.11,194,121, issued Dec. 7, 2021; which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/772,461, filed Apr. 30, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,578,829, issued Mar. 3, 2020; which is the U.S. national stageapplication of International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2016/012441,filed Nov. 1, 2016, which claims priority to Korean Application Nos.10-2015-0153720, filed Nov. 3, 2015; 10-2015-0175733, filed Dec. 10,2015; and 10-2015-0175731, filed Dec. 10, 2015, the disclosures of eachof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The teachings in accordance with exemplary and non-limiting embodimentsof this invention relate generally to a lens driving device, a cameramodule, and an optical device.

BACKGROUND ART

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.

Concomitant with widely generalized dissemination of various mobileterminals and commercialization of wireless Internet services, demandsby consumers related to mobile terminals are diversified to promptvarious types of circumferential devices or additional equipment to bemounted on mobile terminals.

Inter alia, camera modules may be representative items photographing anobject in a still picture or a video. Recently, camera modules equippedwith auto focusing function capable of automatically adjusting a focusin response to a distance to a subject have been manufactured. Meantime,the camera modules equipped with the auto focus function generallyinclude an elastic member movably supporting a bobbin relative to ahousing.

On the other hand, the conventional camera modules having the auto focusfunction include a plurality of legs in which elastic membersindependently and mutually are disposed. In this case, the conventionalcamera modules suffer from disadvantages in that a fine force may begenerated on some or all of the plurality of legs in the manufacturingprocesses including a process of coupling an elastic member to a bobbinand/or a housing. Particularly, when a bending is generated on some orall of the plurality of legs, a serious problem occurs where a statictilt is generated in which a tilt (lean) occurs on the bobbin under aninitial state where no current is supplied to the camera module.

Furthermore, there is another problem where the elastic member istwisted in a process of coupling an elastic member to a housing. Inaddition, the conventional camera modules having handshake correction(OIS: Optical Image Stabilization) function are disposed with aplurality of lateral support units, where each of the plurality oflateral support units is inserted into a separate hole of a housing.However, the conventional camera modules suffer from disadvantages inthat an operation time loss is generated in a process of coupling theplurality of lateral support units to the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Subject

In order to solve the abovementioned problems/disadvantages, exemplaryembodiments of the present invention provide a lens driving deviceincluding a plurality of legs free from individual trembling.

Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide alens driving device configured to minimize a twisting (or warp) ofelastic member in a fusing process, which is a process of coupling anelastic member to a housing.

Still furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the present inventionprovide a lens driving device including a structure configured toshorten an assembly time between a housing and a lateral support member.

Still furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the present inventionprovide a camera module including the lens driving device and an opticaldevice.

Technical Solution

In one general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lensdriving device comprising: a housing; a bobbin so disposed inside of thehousing as to move to a first direction; a first coil disposed at anouter circumferential surface of bobbin; a driving magnet disposed atthe housing to face the first coil; a base disposed underneath thehousing; a substrate including a circuit member having a second coil sodisposed as to face the driving magnet between the housing and the base;an upper elastic member disposed at an upper side of the bobbin to becoupled to the bobbin and the housing; and a bottom elastic memberdisposed at a bottom side of the bobbin to be coupled to the bobbin andthe housing, wherein the bottom elastic member includes a first outerportion coupled to the housing, and a second outer portion coupled tothe housing and spaced apart from the first outer portion, a first innerportion coupled to the bobbin and a second inner portion coupled to thebobbin and spaced apart from the first inner portion, a first elasticportion connecting the first outer portion to the first inner portion, asecond elastic portion connecting the second outer portion to the secondinner portion, and an inner connection portion connecting the firstinner portion to the second inner portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the bottom elastic member may furtherinclude an outer connection portion connecting the first outer portionto the second outer portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, at least one portion of the outerconnection portion may be disposed at an outside of the driving magnet.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the bobbin may include, at an insidethereof, an upper/bottom opened lens receptor, and the inner connectionportion may be formed in a circular shape, and an inner diameter of theinner connection portion may correspond to a diameter of the lensreceptor.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the bottom elastic member may furtherinclude a third outer portion and a fourth outer portion coupled to thehousing, a third inner portion and a fourth inner portion coupled to thebobbin, and a third elastic portion connecting the third outer portionand the third inner portion, and a fourth elastic portion connecting thefourth outer portion and the fourth inner portion, wherein the innerconnection portion connects the first to fourth inner portions.

Preferably, but not necessarily, each of the first outer portion and thesecond outer portion may be disposed at an edge portion side of thehousing.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the housing may include first to thirdlateral portions, each continuously and adjacently disposed, a firstedgy portion disposed between the first lateral portion and the secondlateral portion, and a second edge portion interposed between the secondlateral portion and the third lateral portion, wherein the first outerportion may be disposed nearer to the first edge portion than the secondedge portion, and the first inner portion may be disposed nearer to thesecond edge portion than the first edge portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first outer portion may include afirst insertion hole inserted by a first lug of the housing, a secondinsertion hole inserted by a second lug of the housing and spaced apartfrom the first insertion hole, and a connection hole connecting thefirst insertion hole and the second insertion hole, wherein a width ofthe connection hole may be smaller than a width of the first insertionhole and a width of the second insertion hole.

Preferably, but not necessarily, at least one portion of connection holemay be disposed with a fused area of any one or more of the first lugand the second lug.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first inner portion may include acoupling hole inserted by a coupling lug of the bobbin, and a rotationprevention hole inserted by a rotation prevention lug of the bobbin andspaced apart from the coupling hole, wherein the rotation prevention lugmay be disposed at a farther outside than the coupling lug, and thecoupling lug may be fused while being inserted into the coupling hole.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the lens driving device furthercomprises: a sensing magnet disposed at the bobbin; and a sensordisposed at the housing to detect the sensing magnet, wherein the upperelastic member may include first to sixth elastic units, each andmutually spaced apart from the other, and wherein the first and secondelastic units may be electrically connected to the first coil and thethird to sixth elastic units may be electrically connected to thesensor.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the lens driving device furthercomprises:

-   -   a support member coupled to the upper elastic member and the        substrate, wherein the support member may include first to sixth        wires coupled to the first to sixth elastic units, each of the        first to sixth wires being paired to each of the first to sixth        elastic units.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the lens driving device furthercomprises: a guide portion protruded from an upper surface of thehousing, wherein the guide portion may be disposed on at least onediscrete space out of a plurality of discrete spaces among the third tosixth elastic units.

In another general aspect of the present invention, there is provided acamera module, comprising: a PCB (Printed Circuit Board); an imagesensor coupled to the PCB; a housing; a bobbin so disposed as to move toa first direction at an inside of the housing; a first coil disposed atan outer circumferential surface of the bobbin; a driving magnetdisposed at the housing to face the first coil; a base interposedbetween the housing and the PCB; a substrate including a circuit memberhaving a second coil to face the driving magnet between the housing andthe base; an upper elastic member disposed at an upper side of thebobbin to be coupled to the bobbin and the housing, and a bottom elasticmember disposed at a bottom side of the bobbin to be coupled to thebobbin and the housing, wherein the bottom elastic member includes afirst outer portion coupled to the housing, and a second outer portioncoupled to the housing and spaced apart from the first outer portion, afirst inner portion coupled to the bobbin and a second inner portioncoupled to the bobbin and spaced apart from the first inner portion, afirst elastic portion connecting the first outer portion to the firstinner portion, a second elastic portion connecting the second outerportion to the second inner portion, and an inner connection portionconnecting the first inner portion to the second inner portion.

In still another general aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an optical device comprising a main body, a camera modulephotographing a subject, and a display portion disposed at one surfaceof main body to output an image photographed by the camera module,wherein the camera module includes: a PCB (Printed Circuit Board); animage sensor coupled to the PCB; a housing; a bobbin so disposed as tomove to a first direction at an inside of the housing; a first coildisposed at an outer circumferential surface of the bobbin; a drivingmagnet disposed at the housing to face the first coil; a base interposedbetween the housing and the PCB; a substrate including a circuit memberhaving a second coil to face the driving magnet between the housing andthe base; an upper elastic member disposed at an upper side of thebobbin to be coupled to the bobbin and the housing, and a bottom elasticmember disposed at a bottom side of the bobbin to be coupled to thebobbin and the housing, wherein the bottom elastic member includes afirst outer portion coupled to the housing, and a second outer portioncoupled to the housing and spaced apart from the first outer portion, afirst inner portion coupled to the bobbin and a second inner portioncoupled to the bobbin and spaced apart from the first inner portion, afirst elastic portion connecting the first outer portion to the firstinner portion, a second elastic portion connecting the second outerportion to the second inner portion, and an inner connection portionconnecting the first inner portion to the second inner portion.

A lens driving device according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention may include: a bobbin; a first driving portiondisposed at the bobbin; a housing disposed at an outside of the bobbin;a second driving portion disposed at the housing to face the firstdriving portion; and a first support member coupled to the bobbin andhousing; wherein the first support member includes a first outer portioncoupled to the housing, a second outer portion coupled to the housing tobe spaced apart from the first outer portion, a first inner portioncoupled to the bobbin, a second inner portion coupled to the bobbin tobe spaced apart from the first inner portion, a first elastic portionconnecting the first outer portion to the first inner portion, a secondelastic portion connecting the second outer portion to the second innerportion, and an inner connection portion connecting the first innerportion and the second inner portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the bobbin may include, at an insidethereof, an upper/bottom-opened lens receptor, wherein the innerconnection portion may be formed in a circular shape, and an innerdiameter of the inner connection portion may correspond to a diameter ofthe lens receptor.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first support member may furtherinclude an outer connection portion connecting the first outer portionand the second outer portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, at least some of the outer connectionportion may be disposed at an outside of the second driving portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first outer portion may include afirst insertion hole inserted by a first lug of the housing, a secondinsertion hole inserted by a second lug of the housing and spaced apartfrom the first insertion hole, and a connection hole connecting thefirst insertion hole and the second insertion hole, wherein width of theconnection hole may be smaller than that of the first insertion hole andthe second insertion hole.

Preferably, but not necessarily, at least some of the connection holemay be disposed with any one or more of fused areas with the first lugand the second lug.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first inner portion may include acoupling hole inserted by a coupling lug of the bobbin, and a rotationprevention hole inserted by a rotation prevention lug of bobbin andspaced apart from the coupling hole, wherein the rotation prevention lugmay be disposed farther outside of the coupling lug, and the couplinglug may be fused while being inserted into the coupling hole.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the housing may include first to thirdside portions, each continuously and adjacently disposed, a first edgeportion interposed between the first side portion and the second sideportion, and a second edge portion interposed between the second sideportion and the third side portion, wherein the first outer portion maybe disposed nearer to the first edge portion than the second edgeportion, and the first inner portion may be disposed nearer to thesecond edge portion than the first edge portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the housing may include first to fourthside portions, each continuously and adjacently disposed, a first edgeportion interposed between the first side portion and the second sideportion, a second edge portion interposed between the second sideportion and the third side portion, a third edge portion interposedbetween the third side portion and the fourth side portion, and a fourthedge portion interposed between the fourth side portion and the firstside portion, wherein the first outer portion may be disposed at a firstedge portion side, and the second outer portion may be disposed at asecond edge portion side, and wherein the support member may furtherinclude a third outer portion disposed at a third edge portion side anda fourth outer portion disposed at a fourth edge portion side.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the lens driving device may furthercomprise: a second support member coupled to an upper surface of bobbinand to an upper surface of housing; a sensing magnet mounted on thebobbin; and a sensor disposed on the housing to detect the sensingmagnet, wherein the first support member may be coupled to a lowersurface of bobbin and to a lower surface of housing, and the secondsupport member may include first to sixth elastic units, each spacedapart, the first and second elastic units may be electrically connectedto the first driving portion and the third to sixth elastic units may beelectrically connected to the sensor.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the camera module according to anexemplary embodiment may include: a bobbin; a first driving portiondisposed at the bobbin; a housing disposed at an outside of the bobbin;a second driving portion disposed at the housing to face the firstdriving portion; and a first support member coupled to the bobbin andthe housing; wherein the first support member may include a first outerportion coupled to the housing, a second outer portion coupled to thehousing to be spaced apart from the first outer portion, a first innerportion coupled to the bobbin, a second inner portion coupled to thebobbin to be spaced apart from the first inner portion, a first elasticportion connecting the first outer portion to the inner portion, asecond elastic portion connecting the second outer portion to the secondinner portion, and an inner connection portion connecting the firstinner portion to the second inner portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, an optical device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a bobbin; afirst driving portion disposed at the bobbin; a housing disposed at anoutside of the bobbin; a second driving portion disposed at the housingto face the first driving portion; and a first support member coupled tothe bobbin and the housing; wherein the first support member may includea first outer portion coupled to the housing, a second outer portioncoupled to the housing to be spaced apart from the first outer portion,a first inner portion coupled to the bobbin, a second inner portioncoupled to the bobbin to be spaced apart from the first inner portion, afirst elastic portion connecting the first outer portion to the innerportion, a second elastic portion connecting the second outer portion tothe second inner portion, and an inner connection portion connecting thefirst inner portion to the second inner portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a lens driving device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a housing; afirst driving portion disposed at the housing; a bobbin disposed at aninside of the housing; a second driving portion disposed at the bobbinto face the first driving portion; and a support member coupled to anyone or more of the housing and the bobbin to support the bobbin relativeto the housing, wherein the support member may include a first supportunit coupled to a first surface of the housing, and a second supportunit coupled to a first surface of the housing to be spaced apart fromthe first support unit, and wherein the housing may include a guideportion protruded from the first surface to between the first supportunit and the second support unit.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the guide portion may directly contactany one or more of the first support unit and the second support unit.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the guide portion may include apartition portion disposed between the first support unit and the secondsupport unit, and an extension portion extended from an outer end of thepartition portion along an outer circumference of the housing.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the partition portion may include afirst partition portion and a second partition portion spaced apart fromthe first partition portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first support unit may include afirst round portion in which corners are formed to be round, and theguide portion may include a second round portion having a curvaturecorresponding to that of the first round portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the guide portion may be disposed at anarea where a distance between the first support unit and the secondsupport unit is the shortest in a space between the first support unitand the second support unit.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a height of the guide portion from thefirst surface may be greater than a thickness of the first support unitand the second support unit.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the lens driving device may furthercomprise third to sixth support units coupled to the first surface ofhousing; a sensing magnet disposed at the bobbin and a sensor portiondisposed at the housing to detect the sensing magnet, wherein the firstto sixth support units are mutually spaced apart, and the first tofourth support units may be electrically connected to the sensorportion, and the fifth and sixth support units may be electricallyconnected to the second driving portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the housing may further include a firstlug protruded from the first surface and a second lug protruded from thefirst surface to be spaced apart from the first lug, wherein the firstsupport unit may include a first hole coupled to the first lug and asecond hole coupled to the second lug.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the housing may further include a firstlug protruded from the first surface, and the first support unit mayinclude a first hole coupled to the first lug, and a cut-off portionextended from the first hole, and the first lug may be fused while beingcoupled to the first hole to accommodate at least some portion ofcut-off portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a camera module according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a housing; afirst driving portion disposed at the housing; a bobbin disposed at aninside of the housing; a second driving portion disposed at the bobbinto face the first driving portion; and a support member coupled to anyone or more of the housing and the bobbin to support the bobbin relativeto the housing, wherein the support member include a first support unitcoupled to a first surface of the housing, a second support unit coupledto the first surface of housing to be spaced apart from the firstsupport unit, and wherein the housing includes a guide portion protrudedfrom the first surface to protrude between the first support unit andthe second support unit.

Preferably, but not necessarily, an optical device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a housing; afirst driving portion disposed at the housing; a bobbin disposed at aninside of the housing; a second driving portion disposed at the bobbinto face the first driving portion; and a support member coupled to anyone or more of the housing and the bobbin to support the bobbin relativeto the housing, wherein the support member include a first support unitcoupled to a first surface of the housing, a second support unit coupledto the first surface of housing to be spaced apart from the firstsupport unit, and wherein the housing includes a guide portion protrudedfrom the first surface to protrude between the first support unit andthe second support unit.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a lens driving device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a housing; afirst driving portion disposed at the housing; a base disposed at alower side of the housing; a second driving portion disposed at the baseto face the first driving portion; and first and second side supportunits each spaced apart from the other; a side support member supportedat one side by the housing and supported by the base at the other side;and a support member receptor disposed at the housing to accommodate theside support member, wherein the first and second side support units aredisposed at the support member receptor to contact a damping portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first and second side support unitsmay be so disposed as to show an area accommodated in the support memberreceptor of the first and second side support units when viewed from aside of the housing.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the support member receptor may includea first staircase portion so formed as to be more relatively protrudedat a lower surface than an upper surface, and the damping portion may becoated on an upper surface of the first staircase portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the side support member may furtherinclude third to eighth side support units, wherein the housing includesfirst to fourth edge portions formed by four side portions, and whereinthe support member receptor include a first receptor part disposed atthe first edge portion, a second receptor part disposed at the secondedge portion, a third receptor part disposed at the third edge portionand a fourth receptor part disposed at the fourth edge portion, andwherein each two of the first to eighth side support units isrespectively disposed at the first to fourth receptor parts.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first receptor part may be formedwith a first receptor groove accommodated in the first side support unitand a second receptor groove accommodated into the second side supportunit, wherein the support member receptor include a partition wallinterposed between the first receptor groove and the second receptorgroove, and wherein at least some areas of an outer surface of thepartition wall may be disposed at farther inner side of the first sidesupport unit and the second side support unit, or disposed on a sameplanar surface, and the outer surface of the partition wall may beformed with a second staircase portion more protrusively formed at alower surface than at an upper surface.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first receptor part may include afirst receptor groove accommodated by the first side support unit,wherein the first receptor groove may include an inclination portion inwhich at least some areas of the first receptor groove grow greater at awidth from an upper side to a lower side.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the first receptor part may include afirst receptor groove accommodated by the first side support unit, and athird staircase portion so stair-cased as to allow a width at an uppersurface of the first receptor groove to be greater than a width at alower surface of the first receptor groove.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the lens driving device may furthercomprise: a bobbin disposed at an inside of the housing; a third drivingportion disposed at the bobbin to face the first driving portion; and anupper support member coupled to an upper surface of the bobbin and to anupper surface of the housing, wherein the side support member may becoupled at one side to the upper support member and coupled at the otherside to the third driving portion.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the lens driving device may furthercomprise: a sensing magnet disposed at the bobbin; a sensor disposed atthe housing to detect the sensing magnet; and a substrate mounted withthe sensor and disposed at an upper surface of the housing, wherein theupper support member may include first to sixth upper support units,each discrete from the other, and wherein the first to second uppersupport units may be electrically connected to the third driving portionand the third to sixth upper support units may be electrically connectedto the substrate.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the side support member may furtherinclude third to sixth side support units, wherein the first to sixthside support units may be electrically connected to the first to sixthupper support units by being paired to each other in an numerical order.

A camera module according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention may comprise: a housing; a first driving portion disposed atthe housing; a base disposed at a lower side of the housing; a seconddriving portion disposed at the base to face the first driving portion;a side support member including first and second side support units,supported at one side by the housing and supported at the other side bythe base; and a support member receptor portion disposed at the housingto accommodate the side support member, wherein the first and secondside support units may contact a damping portion by being disposed atthe support member receptor portion.

An optical device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention may comprise: a housing; a first driving portion disposed atthe housing; a base disposed at a lower side of the housing; a seconddriving portion disposed at the base to face the first driving portion;a side support member including first and second side support units,supported at one side by the housing and supported at the other side bythe base; and a support member receptor portion disposed at the housingto accommodate the side support member, wherein the first and secondside support units may contact a damping portion by being disposed atthe support member receptor portion.

Advantageous Effects

The present exemplary embodiment can minimize a static tilt of bobbingenerated by bending of a plurality of legs at an elastic member.Furthermore, a phenomenon of an elastic member being twisted in thecourse of being coupled by a fusing process of a housing can beminimized.

In addition, when an elastic member is used with a conductive line, aphenomenon of an elastic member being twisted by a coupling processbetween the elastic member and other members can be minimized.Furthermore, a short-circuit phenomenon can be inhibited that is causedby mutual contacts among a plurality of discretely-disposed elasticmembers. Still furthermore, an assembly time between a housing and aside support member can be shortened. Still furthermore, a working hourloss during damping works of a damper coated on a housing and a sideelastic member can be reduced to thereby simplify curing of a damper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a lens driving deviceaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a lens drivingdevice according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a cover memberof FIG. 1 is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an upper elastic member of alens driving device according to a first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view illustrating some elements of a lens drivingdevice according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a partially expanded view illustrating some elements in FIG. 5being expanded.

FIG. 7 is a plane view illustrating some elements of a lens drivingdevice according to a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is an expanded view illustrating some elements of a lens drivingdevice in FIG. 7 according to a second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating some elements of a lensdriving device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating some elements of a lensdriving device according to a modification of a second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating some elements of a lensdriving device according to another modification of a second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating some elements of a lensdriving device according to still another modification of a secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a state of a cover memberbeing omitted from a lens driving device according to a third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a lateral view illustrating a state of some elements beingomitted as seen of FIG. 13 from a lateral surface.

FIG. 15 is an expanded view illustrating a state of some elements beingexpanded in FIG. 13 .

FIG. 16 is an expanded view illustrating some elements of a lens drivingdevice according to a modification of a third exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are expanded views illustrating some elements beingexpanded from a lens driving device according to another modification ofa third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Some of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the descriptions,the same reference numerals will be assigned to the same elements in theexplanations of the figures.

Furthermore, the terms “first,” “second,” “A”, “B”, (a), (b) and thelike, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, butrather are used to distinguish one element from another. In thefollowing description and/or claims, the terms coupled and/or connected,along with their derivatives, may be used. In particular embodiments,connected may be used to indicate that two or more elements are indirect physical and/or electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” maymean that two or more elements are in direct physical and/or electricalcontact. However, coupled may also mean that two or more elements maynot be in direct contact with each other, but yet may still cooperateand/or interact with each other. For example, “coupled”, “joined” and“connected” may mean that two or more elements do not contact each otherbut are indirectly joined together via another element or intermediateelements.

An “optical axis direction” as used hereinafter may be defined as anoptical axis direction of a lens module in a state of being coupled to alens driving device. Meantime, the “optical axis direction” may beinterchangeably used with “vertical direction” and “z axis direction”and the like.

An “auto focus function” as used hereinafter may be defined as afunction of automatically matching a focus relative to an object byadjusting a distance from an image sensor by moving a lens module to anoptical axis direction. Meantime, the “auto focus” may beinterchangeably used with “AF”.

A “handshake correction function” as used hereinafter may be defined asa function of moving or tilting a lens module to a directionperpendicular to an optical axis direction in order to offset vibration(movement) generated on the image sensor by an outer force. Meantime,the “handshake correction” may be interchangeably used with an “OIS(Optical Image Stabilization)”.

Any one of AF driving coil (220), a driving magnet (320) and an OISdriving coil (422) may be called a “first driving portion”, another onemay be called a “second driving portion” and a remaining one may becalled a “third driving portion”. Meantime, the AF driving coil (220),the driving magnet (320) and the OIS driving coil (422) may be arrangedby mutually and interchangeably changing a position thereof.

Any one of AF driving coil (220) and the OIS driving coil (422) may becalled a “first coil”, and remaining one may be called a “second coil”.Any one of the driving magnet (320), a sensing magnet (715) and acompensation magnet (716) may be called a “first magnet”, another onemay be called a “second magnet”, and a remaining one may be called a“third magnet”.

Now, a configuration of an optical device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter.

The optical device may be a hand phone, a mobile phone, a smart phone, aportable smart device, a digital camera, a notebook computer (laptopcomputer), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player) and a navigation device.However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may includeany device capable of photographing an image or a photograph.

The optical device may include a main body (not shown), a camera moduleand a display portion (not shown). However, any one or more of the mainbody, the camera module and the display portion may be omitted orchanged.

The main body may form an exterior look of an optical device. Forexample, the main body may include a look of a cubic shape. For anotherexample, the main body may be formed in a round shape on at least someportions thereof. The main body may accommodate a camera module. Themain body may be arranged at one surface with a display portion. Forexample, the display portion and the camera module may be disposed atone surface of the main body and a camera module may be additionallydisposed at the other surface (surface opposite to the one surface) ofmain body.

The camera module may be disposed at the main body. The camera modulemay be disposed at one surface of the main body. At least some portionsof the camera module may be accommodated into the main body. The cameramodule may be formed in a plural number. The plurality of camera modulesmay be respectively disposed at one surface of the main body and theother surface of the main body. The camera module may photograph animage of a subject.

The display portion may be disposed at the main body. The displayportion may be disposed at one surface of main body. That is, thedisplay portion may be arranged on a same surface as that of the cameramodule. Alternatively, the display portion may be disposed at the othersurface of main body. The display portion may be disposed at a surfaceon the main body opposite to a surface arranged with the camera module.The display portion may output an image photographed by the cameramodule.

Now, configuration of camera module according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention will be described.

The camera module may include a lens driving device, a lens module (notshown), an infrared cut-off filter (not shown), a PCB (Printed CircuitBoard, not shown), an image sensor (not shown), and a controller (notshown). However, any one or more of the lens driving device, the lensmodule, the infrared cut-off filter, the PCB, the image sensor, and thecontroller may be omitted or changed from the camera module.

The lens module may include at least one or more lenses. The lens modulemay include a lens and a lens barrel. The lens module may include one ormore lenses (not shown) and a lens barrel accommodating the lenses.However, one element of the lens module is not limited by the lensbarrel, and any holder structure capable of supporting one or morelenses will suffice. The lens module may be coupled to an inside of thelens driving device, The lens module may be coupled to a bobbin (210) oflens driving device. The lens module may integrally move with the bobbin(210). The lens module may be coupled to the bobbin (210) using anadhesive (not shown). The lens module may be screw-coupled with thebobbin (210), for example. Meantime, a light having passed the lensmodule may be irradiated on an image sensor.

The infrared cut-off filter may serve to inhibit a light of infrared rayregion from entering an image sensor. The infrared cut-off filter may beinterposed between a lens module and an image sensor, for example. Theinfrared cut-off filter may be disposed at a holder member (not shown)separately formed independent from a base (430). However, the infraredcut-off filter may be installed at a hollow hole (431) of the base(430). The infrared cut-off filter may be formed with a film material ora glass material. The infrared cut-off filter may be formed by allowingan infrared cut-off coating material to be coated on a plate-shapedoptical filter such as an imaging plane protection cover glass or acover glass, for example. The infrared cut-off filter may be an infraredabsorption filter absorbing an infrared ray. For another example, theinfrared cut-off filter may be an infrared reflection filter reflectingan infrared ray.

A lens driving device may be disposed at an upper surface of a PCB. ThePCB may be disposed at a lower surface of the lens driving device. ThePCB may be coupled with the lens driving device. The PCB may be mountedwith an image sensor. The PCB may be electrically connected to the imagesensor. A holder member may be interposed between the PCB and the lensdriving device, for example. At this time, the holder member mayaccommodate an image sensor at an inside thereof. In another example,the lens driving device may be directly disposed at the PCB. At thistime, an inside of the lens driving device may accommodate the imagesensor. Through this configuration, a light having passed the lensmodule coupled to the lens driving device may be irradiated on the imagesensor disposed at the PCB. The PCB may supply a power (current) to thelens driving device. Meantime, the PCB may be disposed with a controllerfor controlling the lens driving device.

The image sensor may be mounted on the PCB. The image sensor may beelectrically connected to the PCB. For example, the image sensor may becoupled to the PCB using an SMT (Surface Mounting Technology). Inanother example, the image sensor may be coupled to the PCB using a flipchip technology. The image sensor may be so disposed as to match thelens module in terms of optical axis. That is, an optical axis of imagesensor and an optical axis of lens module may be aligned, through whichthe image sensor can obtain a light having passed the lens module. Theimage sensor may convert the light irradiated to an effective image areaof image sensor to an electrical signal. The image sensor may be any oneof a CCD (charge coupled device), an MOS (metal oxide semi-conductor), aCPD and a CID, for example. However, the types of image sensor are notlimited thereto, and any configuration capable of converting an incidentlight to an electrical signal may be permitted.

The controller may be mounted on a PCB. The controller may be disposedat an inside of the lens driving device, for example. In anotherexample, the controller may be also disposed at an outside of the lensdriving device. The controller may individually control a direction,intensity and an amplitude of a current supplied to the AF driving coil(220) and the OIS driving coil (422) of lens driving device. Thecontroller may perform any one of an AF function and an OIS function ofthe camera module by controlling the lens driving device. That is, thecontroller may move the lens module to an optical axis direction or tilethe lens module to a direction orthogonal to the optical axis directionby controlling the lens driving device. Furthermore, the controller mayperform any one or more feedback controls in the AF function and OISfunction.

To be more specific, the controller may perform the auto focus feedbackcontrol by controlling a current supplied to the AF driving coil (220)by receiving a position of the bobbin (210) and/or the housing (310)detected by a sensor portion (700). Furthermore, the controller mayperform the OIS feedback control by controlling a current supplied tothe OIS driving coil (422) by receiving a position of the bobbin (210)and/or the housing (310) detected by a sensor portion (700). Theabovementioned feedback control by the controller is generated in realtime to allow performing more accurate auto focus and OIS functions.

Hereinafter, configuration of lens driving device will be described indetail according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention in reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a lens driving deviceaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a lens driving deviceaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG.3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a cover member ofFIG. 1 is omitted, FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an upperelastic member of a lens driving device according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a bottom viewillustrating some elements of a lens driving device according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a partiallyexpanded view illustrating some elements in FIG. 5 being expanded.

The lens driving device according to the first exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may include a cover member (100), a first mover(200), a second mover (300), a stator (400), a support member (600) anda sensor portion (700). However, the lens driving device according tothe first exemplary embodiment of the present invention may omit any oneof the cover member (100), the first mover (200), the second mover(300), the stator (400), the support member (600) and the sensor portion(700). Inter alia, the sensor portion (700) may be omitted because thesensor portion (700) is an element for AF feedback function and/or OISfeedback function.

The cover member (100) may form an exterior look of lens driving device.The cover member (100) may take a bottom-opened cubic shape. However,the shape of the cover member (100) is not limited thereto. The covermember (100) may include a non-magnetic body. When the cover member(100) is formed with a non-magnetic body, a magnetic force of the covermember (100) may affect any one or more of a driving magnet (320), asensing magnet (715) and a compensation magnet (716). The cover member(100) may be formed with a metal material. To be more specific, thecover member (100) may be formed with a metal plate. In this case, thecover member (100) may inhibit shield an EMI (ElectromagneticInterference). Because of this characteristic in the cover member (100),the cover member (100) may be called an “EMI shield can”. The covermember (100) may inhibit electric waves generated from outside of thelens driving device from entering an inside of the cover member (100).Furthermore, the cover member (100) may inhibit the electric wavesgenerated from inside of the cover member (100) from being emitted tooutside of the cover member (100).

The cover member (100) may include an upper plate (101) and a lateralplate (102). The cover member (100) may include an upper plate (101) anda lateral plate (102) extended from an outer periphery of the upperplate (101) to a bottom side. For example, the cover member (100) may becoupled to a base (430). Some portions of the lateral plate (102) at thecover member (100) may be coupled to the base (430). A bottom end of thelateral plate (102) of the cover member (100) may be disposed at astaircase portion of the base (430). An inner lateral surface of thelateral plate (102) at the cover member may directly contact an outerlateral surface of the base (430). An inner lateral surface of thelateral plate (102) at the cover member may be coupled to the base (430)using an adhesive. In another example, the cover member (100) may bedirectly coupled to an upper surface of PCB. An inner space formedbetween the cover member (100) and the base (430) may be disposed withthe first mover (200), the second mover (300), the stator (400) and thesupport member (600). Through this structure, the cover member (100) canprotect inner elements from external shocks and simultaneously toinhibit introduction of external foreign objects.

The cover member (100) may include an opening (110). The opening (110)may be formed at the upper plate (101) of the cover member (100). Theopening (110) may expose the lens module to an upper side. The opening(110) may be formed in a shape corresponding to that of the lens module.The size of opening (110) may be formed greater than that of a diameterof the lens module in order to allow the lens module to be assembledthrough the opening (110). A light introduced through the opening (110)may pass through the lens module. At this time, the light having passedthe lens module may be converted to an electrical signal by the imagesensor to allow obtaining an image.

The first mover (200) may be coupled to a lens module, one of theconstitutional elements of camera module {however, the lens module maybe explained as one of the elements of the lens driving device}. Thefirst mover (200) may be accommodated into an inside of the lens module.An inner peripheral surface of the first mover (200) may be coupled byan outer peripheral surface of the lens module. The first mover (200)may move integrally with the lens module through an interaction with thesecond mover (300) and/or with the stator (400). At this time, the firstmover (200) may integrally move with the lens module. Meantime, thefirst mover (200) may move in order to perform an auto focus function.At this time, the first mover (200) may be called an “AF mover”.However, the present description is not limiting the first mover (200)as a member moving only for the auto focus function. The first mover(200) may move for OIS function.

The first mover (200) may include a bobbin (210) and an AF driving coil(220). However, any one or more of the bobbin (210) and the AF drivingcoil (220) may be omitted or changed from the first mover (200).

The bobbin (210) may be coupled to an inside of the housing (310). Thebobbin (210) may be disposed at a through hole (311) of the housing(310). The bobbin (210) may move to an optical axis direction based onthe housing (310). The bobbin (210) may be so disposed at the throughhole (311) of the housing (310) as to move along an optical axis. Thebobbin (210) may be coupled to the lens module. An inner peripheralsurface of bobbin (210) may be coupled by an outer peripheral surface oflens module. The bobbin (210) may be coupled by an AF driving coil(220). The outer peripheral surface of bobbin (210) may be coupled bythe AF driving coil (220). A bottom surface of bobbin (210) may becoupled by the bottom elastic member (620). An upper surface of bobbin(210) may be coupled by an upper elastic member (610).

The bobbin (210) may include a through hole (211), a driving portioncoupling portion (212), an upper coupling portion (213) and a bottom(lower) coupling portion (214). However, any one or more of the throughhole (211), the driving portion coupling portion (212), the uppercoupling portion (213) and the bottom coupling portion (214) may beomitted or changed from the bobbin (210).

The through hole (211) may be formed at an inside of the bobbin (210).The through hole (211) may take an upper/bottom opened shape. Thethrough hole (211) may be coupled by the lens module. An innerperipheral surface of through hole (211) may be formed with a screwthread in a shape corresponding to that of a screw thread formed at anouter peripheral surface of the lens module. That is, the through hole(211) may be screw-connected by the lens module. An adhesive may beinfused between the lens module and the bobbin (210). At this time, theadhesive may be an epoxy cured by any one or more of a UV, heat andlaser. Furthermore, the lens module and the bobbin (210) may be adheredby a heat-curing epoxy.

The driving portion coupling portion (212) may be coupled by the AFdriving coil (220). The driving portion coupling portion (212) may beformed at an outer peripheral surface of bobbin (210). The drivingportion coupling portion (212) may be formed as a groove by allowing aportion of the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin (210) to beconcavely and inwardly formed. At this time, the driving portioncoupling portion (212) may be accommodated by at least some portion ofthe AF driving coil (220). The driving portion coupling portion (212)may be integrally formed with the outer peripheral surface of bobbin(210). For example, the driving portion coupling portion (212) may becontinuously formed along the outer peripheral surface of bobbin (210).At this time, the driving portion coupling portion (212) may be woundwith the AF driving coil (220). In another example, the driving portioncoupling portion (212) may be formed in a plural number, each spacedapart from the other. At this time, the AF driving coil (220) may bealso formed in a plural number, each spaced apart from the other, andeach coupled to the driving portion coupling portion (212). In anotherexample, the driving portion coupling portion (212) may be formed in anupper opened shape or a bottom opened shape. At this time, the AFdriving coil (220) may be inserted and coupled to the driving portioncoupling portion (212) through the opened area while being pre-woundstate.

The upper coupling portion (213) may be coupled to the upper elasticmember (610). The upper coupling portion (213) may be coupled to aninner peripheral surface of the upper elastic member (610). The uppercoupling portion (213) may be protrusively and outwardly formed from anupper surface of bobbin (210). For example, a lug of the upper couplingportion (213) may be inserted and coupled to a groove or a hole at aninner peripheral surface (612) of the upper elastic member (610). Atthis time, the lug of the upper coupling portion (213) may be fusedwhile being inserted into a hole of the inner peripheral surface (612)to fix the upper elastic member (610) between the fused lug and theupper surface of bobbin (210).

The bottom coupling portion (214) may be coupled to a bottom elasticmember (620). The bottom coupling portion (214) may be coupled to aninner peripheral surface (622) of the bottom elastic member (620). Thebottom coupling portion (214) may be downwardly and protrusively formedfrom a bottom surface of the bobbin (210). For example, a lug of thebottom coupling portion (214) may be inserted and coupled to a groove ora hole at an inner peripheral surface (622) of the bottom elastic member(620). At this time, the lug of the bottom coupling portion (214) may befused while being inserted into a hole of the inner peripheral surface(622) to fix the bottom elastic member (620) between the fused lug andthe bottom surface of bobbin (210).

The AF driving coil (220) may be disposed at the bobbin (210). The AFdriving coil (220) may be disposed at an outer peripheral surface ofbobbin (210). The AF driving coil (220) may be directly wound on thebobbin (210). The AF driving coil (220) may be so formed as to face adriving magnet (320). In this case, when a current is supplied to the AFdriving coil (220) to generate a magnetic field about the AF drivingcoil (220), the AF driving coil (220) may be moved relative to thedriving magnet (320) by an electromagnetic interaction between the AFdriving coil (220) and the driving magnet (320). The AF driving coil(220) may electromagnetically interact with the driving magnet (320).The AF driving coil (220) may move the bobbin (210) to an optical axisdirection relative to the housing (310) through the electromagneticinteraction with the driving magnet (320). For example, the AF drivingcoil (220) may be an integrally-formed single coil. For another example,the AF driving coil (220) may include a plurality of coils, each spacedapart from the other. The AF driving coil (220) may be formed with four(4) coils, each spaced apart. At this time, the four coils may be sodisposed at an outer peripheral surface of bobbin (210) as to allow fourcoils to be disposed to form a 90° between adjacent two coils.

The AF driving coil (220) may include a pair of lead cables in order tosupply a power. In this case, the pair of lead cables on the AF drivingcoil (220) may be electrically coupled to fifth and sixth upper elasticunits (6105, 6106), which are divided elements of the upper elasticmember (610). That is, the AF driving coil (220) may receive the powerthrough the upper elastic member (610). To be more specific, the AFdriving coil (220) may sequentially receive the power through the PCB,the substrate (410), the lateral (side) support member (630) and theupper elastic member (610) in that order.

The second mover (300) may accommodate, on an inside thereof, at leastsome areas of the first mover (200). The second mover (300) may move thefirst mover (200) or move along with the first mover (200). The secondmover (300) may be moved through interaction with the stator (400). Thesecond mover (300) may be moved for OIS function. At this time, thesecond mover (300) may be called a “OIS mover”. The second mover (300)may integrally move with the first mover (200) when moving for OISfunction. The second mover (300) may include a housing (310) and adriving magnet (320). However, any one or more of the housing (310) andthe driving magnet (320) may be omitted or changed from the second mover(300).

The housing (310) may be disposed at an outside of the bobbin (210). Thehousing (310) may accommodate, on an inside, at least some areas ofbobbin (210). For example, the housing (310) may include a cubic shape.The housing (310) may include four lateral surfaces, and four cornerportions disposed between the four lateral surfaces. The housing (310)may be disposed with a driving magnet (320). For example, each of thefour lateral surfaces at the housing (310) may be disposed with thedriving magnet (320). At least a portion at an outer peripheral surfaceof the housing (310) may be formed in a shape corresponding to an innerperipheral surface of the lateral plate (102) of the cover member (100).

The housing (310) may be formed with an insulation material. The housing(310) may be formed with a material different from that of the covermember (100). The housing (310) may be formed in an injection-moldedarticle in consideration of productivity. A lateral surface at anoutside of the housing (310) may be spaced apart from a lateral surfaceat an inside of the lateral plate (102) of the cove member (100). Thehousing (310) may move at a discrete space between the housing (310) andthe cover member (100) for OIS driving. An upper surface of housing(310) may be coupled by the upper elastic member (610). A bottom surfaceof housing (310) may be coupled by the bottom elastic member (620).

The housing (310) may include a through hole (311), a driving portioncoupling portion (312), an upper coupling portion (313), a bottomcoupling portion (314) and a sensor coupling portion (315). However, anyone or more of the through hole (311), the driving portion couplingportion (312), the upper coupling portion (313), the bottom couplingportion (314) and the sensor coupling portion (315) may be omitted orchanged from the housing (310).

The housing (310) may include first to fourth lateral portions (3101,3102, 3103, 3104), each being continuously and adjacently arranged. Thehousing (310) may include a first edge portion (3105) disposed betweenthe first lateral portion (3101) and the second lateral portion (3102),a second edge portion (3106) disposed between the second lateral portion(3102) and the third lateral portion (3103), a third edge portion (3107)disposed between the third lateral portion (3103) and the fourth lateralportion (3104), and a fourth edge portion (3108) disposed between thefourth lateral portion (3104) and the first lateral portion (3101).

The through hole (311) may be formed at the housing (310). The throughhole (311) may be formed at an inside of the housing (310). The throughhole (311) may be so formed as to vertically pass through the housing(310). The through hole (311) may be disposed with the bobbin (210). Thethrough hole (311) may be movably arranged with the bobbin (210). Thethrough hole (311) may be formed in a corresponding shape on at leastone portion to that of the bobbin (210). An inner peripheral surface ofthe housing (310) forming the through hole (311) may be so formed as tobe spaced apart from an outer peripheral surface of bobbin (210).However, the inner peripheral surface of the housing (310) forming thethrough hole (311) may be formed with a stopper inwardly protruded tomechanically restrict an optical axis movement of the bobbin (210).

The driving portion coupling portion (312) may be coupled by a drivingmagnet (320). The driving portion coupling portion (312) may be formedat the housing (310). The driving portion coupling portion (312) may beformed at an inner peripheral surface of housing (310). In this case,the driving portion coupling portion (312) is disposed with the drivingmagnet (320), and the AF driving coil (220) is disposed inwardly of thedriving magnet (320). This structural configuration may provide anadvantageous electromagnetic interaction between the driving magnet(320) and the AF driving coil (220). The driving portion couplingportion (312) may take a bottom-opened shape. In this case, anadvantageous electromagnetic interaction may be implemented between thedriving magnet (320) disposed at the driving portion coupling portion(312) and the OIS driving coil (422) disposed at a bottom side of thedriving magnet (320).

The driving portion coupling portion (312) may be formed by a groovethat is formed by an inner peripheral surface of the housing (310) beingconcavely formed toward an outside. The driving portion coupling portion(312) may be formed in a plural number. Meantime, each of the pluralityof driving portion coupling portions may be accommodated by the drivingmagnet (320). For example, the driving portion coupling portion (312)may be divided to four (4) pieces. Each of the four driving portioncoupling portions (312) may be disposed with the driving magnet (320).For example, the driving portion coupling portion (312) may be formed ata lateral surface of housing (310). In another example, the drivingportion coupling portion (312) may be formed at a corner portion ofhousing (310).

The upper coupling portion (313) may be coupled to the upper elasticmember (610). The upper coupling portion (313) may be coupled to anexternal portion (611) of the upper elastic member (610). The uppercoupling portion (313) may be protrusively and upwardly formed from anupper surface of housing (310). For example, a lug of the upper couplingportion (313) may be coupled to a groove or a hole of the externalportion (611) of the upper elastic member (610) by being inserted intothe groove or the hole. At this time, the lug of the upper couplingportion (313) may be fused while being inserted into the hole of theexternal portion (611) to fix the upper elastic member (610) to an areabetween the fused lug and an upper surface of housing (310).

A bottom coupling portion (314) may be coupled to the bottom elasticmember (620). The bottom coupling portion (314) may be coupled to anexternal portion (621) of the bottom elastic member (620). The bottomcoupling portion (314) may be protrusively and downwardly formed from abottom (lower) surface of housing (310). For example, a lug of thebottom coupling portion (314) may be coupled to a groove or a hole ofthe external portion (621) of the bottom elastic member (620) by beinginserted into the groove or the hole. At this time, the lug of thebottom coupling portion (314) may be fused while being inserted into thehole of the external portion (621) to fix the bottom elastic member(620) to an area between the fused lug and a bottom surface of housing(310).

The sensor coupling portion (315) may be disposed with at least someportions of first sensor (not shown). The sensor coupling portion (315)may be formed at the housing (310). The sensor coupling portion (315)may be formed by a groove formed by allowing a portion of an uppersurface at the housing (310) to be concavely recessed to a bottom side.At this time, the sensor coupling portion (315) may be accommodated byat least a portion of the first sensor. Furthermore, at least oneportion of the sensor coupling portion (315) may be formed with a shapecorresponding to that of the first sensor.

The driving magnet (320) may be disposed on the housing (310). Thedriving magnet (320) may be disposed at an outside of the AF drivingcoil (220). The driving magnet (320) may face the AF driving coil (220).The driving magnet (320) may implement an electromagnetic interactionwith the AF driving coil (220). The driving magnet (320) may be disposedat an upper side of the OIS driving coil (422). The driving magnet (320)may face the OIS driving coil (422). The driving magnet (320) mayimplement an electromagnetic interaction with the OIS driving coil(422). The driving magnet (320) may be commonly used for auto focusingfunction and OIS function. However, the driving magnet (320) may includea plurality of magnets separately used for each of the auto focusingfunction and the OIS function.

For example, the driving magnet (320) may be disposed at a lateralsurface of housing (310). At this time, the driving magnet (320) may bea flat plate magnet. The driving magnet (320) may have a flat plateshape. In another example, the driving magnet (320) may be arranged at acorner portion of the housing (310). At this time, the driving magnet(320) may be a corner magnet. The driving magnet (320) may take a cubicshape having a broader inner lateral surface than an outer lateralsurface.

The driving magnet (320) may include a plurality of magnets, each spacedapart from the other. The driving magnet (320) may include four (4)magnets, each spaced apart from the other magnet. At this time, the fourmagnets may be disposed at the housing (310) to allow adjacent twomagnets to form an angle of 90°. That is, the driving magnet (320) maybe disposed at four lateral surfaces of housing (310) at an equidistantinterval. In this case, an efficient use of inner volume of the housing(310) can be promoted. Furthermore, the driving magnet (320) may beadhered to the housing (310) using an adhesive.

The stator (400) may be disposed at a bottom side of housing (310). Thestator (400) may be disposed at a bottom (lower) side of the secondmover (300). The stator (400) may face the second mover (300). Thestator (400) may movably support the second mover (300). The stator(400) may move the second mover (300). At this time, the first mover(200) may also move along with the second mover (300).

The stator (400) may include a substrate (410), a circuit member (420)and a base (430). However, any one or more of the substrate (410), thecircuit member (420) and the base (430) may be omitted or changed fromthe stator (400).

The substrate (410) may supply a power to the OIS driving coil (422).The substrate (410) may be coupled to a circuit member (420). Thesubstrate (410) may be coupled to a PCB disposed at a bottom side of thebase (430). The substrate (410) may be disposed at a bottom surface ofthe circuit member (420). The substrate (410) may be disposed at anupper surface of base (430). The substrate (410) may be interposedbetween the circuit member and the base (430).

The substrate (410) may include a flexible PCB (FPCB, Flexible PrintedCircuit Board). The substrate (410) may be partially bent. The substrate(410) may supply a power to the AF driving coil (220). For example, thesubstrate (410) may supply a power to the AF driving coil (220) throughthe lateral support member (630) and the upper elastic member (610).Furthermore, the substrate (410) may supply a power to a substrate (712)of the first sensor portion (710) through the lateral support member(630) and the upper elastic member (610). The power supplied to thesubstrate may be used to drive the first sensor.

The substrate (410) may include an opening portion (411) and a terminalportion (412). However, any one or more of the opening portion (411) andthe terminal portion (412) may be omitted or changed from the substrate.

The opening portion (411) may be formed on the substrate (410). Theopening portion (411) may be formed at a center of substrate (410). Theopening portion (411) may be so formed as to pass through the substrate(410). The opening portion (411) may pass a light having passed the lensmodule. The opening portion (411) may be formed in a round shape.However, the opening portion (411) is not limited to a round shape.

The terminal portion (412) may be formed on the substrate (410). Aportion of the substrate (410) may be downwardly bent to form theterminal portion (412). At least one portion of the terminal portion(412) may be exposed to an outside. The terminal portion (412) may becoupled to the PCB disposed at a bottom side of the base (430) bysoldering. A bottom end of the terminal portion (412) may be directlycontacted to the PCB. The terminal portion (412) may be disposed at aterminal coupling portion (434) of base (430).

The circuit member (420) may be disposed on the base (430). The circuitmember (420) may be disposed on the substrate (410). The circuit member(420) may be disposed at an upper surface of substrate (410). Thecircuit member (420) may be disposed on a bottom side of the drivingmagnet (320). The circuit member (420) may be interposed between thedriving magnet (320) and the base (430). The circuit member (420) may becoupled by the lateral support member (630). The circuit member (420)may movably support the second mover (300).

The circuit member (420) may include a substrate portion (421) and anOIS driving coil (422). However, any one or more of the substrateportion (421) and the OIS driving coil (422) may be omitted or changedfrom the circuit member (420).

The circuit portion (421) may be a circuit substrate. The substrateportion (421) may be an FPCB. The substrate portion (421) may beintegrally formed with the OIS driving coil (422). The substrate portion(421) may be coupled by the second support member (600). The substrateportion (421) may be formed with a hole passed through by the lateralsupport member (630). A bottom surface of substrate portion (421) and abottom end of the lateral support member (630) may be coupled bysoldering. The substrate portion (421) may be formed with an openingportion. The substrate portion (421) may be formed with an openingportion passing through the substrate portion (421). The opening portionof the substrate portion (421) may be so formed as to correspond to anopening portion (411) of the substrate (410).

The OIS driving coil (422) may face the driving magnet (320). In thiscase, when a current is supplied to the OIS driving coil (422) to form amagnetic field about the OIS driving coil (422), the driving magnet(320) may move relative to the OIS driving coil (422) by anelectromagnetic interaction between the OIS driving coil (422) and thedriving magnet (320). The OIS driving coil (422) may perform anelectromagnetic interaction with the driving magnet (320). The OISdriving coil (422) can move the housing (310) and the bobbin (210) to adirection perpendicular to an optical axis relative to the base (430)through an electromagnetic interaction with the driving magnet (320).The OIS driving coil (422) may include at least one coil. The OISdriving coil (422) may be an FP (Fine Pattern) coil integrally formed atthe substrate portion (421). The OIS driving coil (422) may include aplurality of mutually-discrete coils. The OIS driving coil (422) mayinclude four (4) mutually-discrete coils. At this time, the four coilsmay be disposed on the substrate portion (421) in order to allow twoadjacent coils to form an angle of 90°. Meantime, each of the four coilsmay be independently and separately controlled. The OIS driving coil(422) may receive a power sequentially through the PCB, the substrate(410) and the substrate portion (421).

The base (430) may be disposed on a bottom surface of the substrate(410). An upper surface of base (430) may be disposed with the substrate(410). The base (430) may be disposed with the circuit member (420). Thebase (430) may be coupled with the cover member (100). The base (430)may be disposed at an upper surface of PCB. However, a separate holdermember may be interposed between the base (430) and the PCB. The base(430) may perform a sensor holder function protecting an image sensormounted on the PCB.

The base (430) may include a through hole (431), a foreign objectcollection portion (432) and a sensor coupling portion (433). However,any one or more of the through hole (431), the foreign object collectionportion (432) and the sensor coupling portion (433) may be omitted orchanged from the base (430).

The through hole (431) may be formed on the base (430). The through hole(431) may be so formed as to vertically pass through the base (430). Thethrough hole (431) may be disposed with an infrared filter. However, theinfrared filter may be coupled to a separate holder member disposed on abottom surface of base (430). A light having passed the lens modulethrough the through hole (431) may be incident on the image sensor. Thatis, the light having passed the lens module may be incident on the imagesensor through the opening portion of circuit member (420), the openingportion of substrate (410) and the through hole (431) of base (430).That is, the light having passed the lens module may be incident on theimage sensor by passing through the opening portion of circuit member(420), the opening portion (411) of substrate (410) and the through hole(431) of base (430). The through hole (431) may be so formed as to takea round shape. However, the shape of the through hole (431) is notlimited thereto.

The foreign object collection portion (432) can collect foreign objectsintroduced into the lens driving device. The foreign object collectionportion (432) may include a groove formed by allowing an upper surfaceof base (430) to be concaved downwardly, and an adhesive portiondisposed on the groove. The adhesive may include an adhesive material.The foreign object introduced into the lens driving device may beadhered to the adhesive portion.

The sensor coupling portion (433) may be disposed with a second sensor(800). The sensor coupling portion (433) can accommodate at least aportion of a second sensor (720). The sensor coupling portion (433) maybe formed by a groove formed by allowing an upper surface of base (430)to be recessed downwardly. The sensor coupling portion (433) may beformed by being spaced apart from the foreign object collection portion(432). The sensor coupling portion (433) may be formed with a pluralityof grooves. For example, the sensor coupling portion (433) may be formedwith two grooves. At this time, each of the two grooves may be disposedwith the second sensor (720).

The support member (600) may connect more than two any elements in thefirst mover (200), the second mover (300) and the stator (400). Thesupport member (600) may elastically connect more than any two elementsof the first mover (200), the second mover (300) and the stator (400) toenable a relative movement between each element. The support member(600) may be formed with an elastic member. In this case, the supportmember (600) may be called “elastic member”.

The support member (600) may include an upper elastic member (610), abottom (lower) support member (620) and a lateral (side) support member(630). Here, any one of the upper elastic member (610) and the bottomelastic member (620) may be called “a first elastic member”, and theremaining one may be called “a second elastic member”.

The upper elastic member (610) may include an outer portion (611), aninner portion (612), an elastic portion (613), for example. The upperelastic member (610) may include an outer portion coupled to the housing(310), an inner portion coupled with the bobbin (210) and an elasticportion (613) elastically connecting the outer portion (611) and theinner portion (612).

The upper elastic member (610) may be connected to an upper surface ofthe first mover (200) and an upper surface of the second mover (300). Tobe more specific, the upper elastic member (610) may be coupled to anupper surface of bobbin (210) and an upper surface of housing (310). Theinner portion (612) of upper elastic member (610) may be coupled to anupper coupling portion (213) of bobbin (210), and the outer portion ofthe upper elastic member (610) may be coupled to an upper couplingportion (313) of housing (310).

The upper elastic member (610) may be formed by being divided into sixpieces, for example. At this time, four (4) pieces out of the six (6)upper elastic members may be electrically conducted to the first sensorportion (710) and remaining two pieces may be electrically conducted tothe AF driving coil (220). In other words, the upper elastic member(610) may include mutually-discrete first to sixth upper elastic units(6101, 6102, 6103, 6104, 6105, 6106). At this time, the first to fourthupper elastic units (6101, 6102, 6103, 6104) may be electricallyconnected to the substrate (712). Furthermore, the fifth and sixth upperelastic units (6105, 6106) may be electrically connected to the AFdriving coil (220). The first to fourth upper elastic units (6101, 6102,6103, 6104) may be used to supply a power to the first sensor portion(710), and to transmit/receive information or signals between thecontroller and the first sensor portion (710). The fifth and sixth upperelastic units (6105, 6106) may be used to supply a power to the AFdriving coil (220).

The bottom elastic member (620) may include an outer portion (621), andinner portion (622) and an elastic portion (623), for example. Thebottom elastic member (620) may include an outer portion (621) coupledto the housing (310), and inner portion (622) coupled to the bobbin(210), and an elastic portion (623) elastically connecting the outerportion (621) and the inner portion (622).

The bottom elastic member (620) may be connected to a bottom surface ofthe first mover (200) and to a bottom surface of the second mover (300).To be more specific, the bottom elastic member (620) may be connected toa bottom surface of the bobbin (210) and to a bottom surface of housing(310). The inner portion (622) of the bottom elastic member (620) may becoupled by a bottom coupling portion (214) of bobbin (210), and theouter portion (621) of bottom elastic member (620) may be coupled by abottom coupling portion (314) of housing (310).

The bottom elastic member (620) may be integrally formed, for example.However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In amodification, the bottom elastic member (620) may be formed by beingdivided to a pair to be used to supply a power to the first coil and thelike.

The bottom elastic member (620) may include first to fourth outerportions (6211, 6212, 6213, 6214) coupled to the housing (310) and eachspaced apart. The bottom elastic member (620) may include first tofourth inner portions (6221, 6222, 6223, 6224) coupled to the bobbin(210) and each spaced apart. The bottom elastic member (620) may includea first elastic portion (6231) connecting a first outer portion (6211)and a first inner portion (6221), a second elastic portion (6232)connecting a second outer portion (6212) and a second inner portion(6222), a third elastic portion (6233) connecting a third outer portion(6213) and a third inner portion (6223), and a fourth elastic portion(6234) connecting a fourth outer portion (6214) and a fourth innerportion (6224).

The first outer portion (6211) may be disposed at a first edge portion(3105) side. The second outer portion (6212) may be disposed at a secondedge portion (3106) side. The third outer portion (6213) may be disposedat a third edge portion (3107) side. The fourth outer portion (6214) maybe disposed at a fourth edge portion (3108) side. The first innerportion (6221) may be disposed at a second edge portion (3106) side. Thesecond inner portion (6222) may be disposed at a third edge portion(3107) side. The third inner portion (6223) may be disposed at a fourthedge portion (3108) side. The fourth inner portion (6224) may bedisposed at a first edge portion (3105) side.

The first outer portion (6211) may be disposed closer to the first edge(3105) than the second edge portion (3106). In this case, length of thefirst elastic portion (6231) may be formed to be longer than a casewhere both the first outer portion (6211) and the first inner portion(6221) are disposed at a first edge portion (3105) side. Thus, the firstelastic portion (6231) according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention can be manufactured with a broader width over acomparative exemplary embodiment while securing a necessary elasticity.Meanwhile, when the width of the elasticity portion is broadened, adefect ratio can be reduced because of being less affected by amanufacturing error.

The bottom (lower) elastic member (620) may include an inner connectionportion (624) connecting the first inner portion (6221) and the secondinner portion (6222). The bottom elastic member (620) may include aninner connection portion (624) connecting the first to fourth innerportions (6221, 6222, 6223, 6224). The inner connection portion (624)may connect the first to fourth inner portions (6221, 6222, 6223, 6224).The inner connection portion (624) may connect each distal end of thefirst to fourth inner portions (6221, 6222, 6223, 6224).

The inner connection portion (624) may connect each end of the first tofourth inner portions (6221, 6222, 6223, 6224). In this case, aphenomenon of generating a bending on any one or more of the first tofourth inner portions (6221, 6222, 6223, 6224) can be minimized over acase of being individually formed because the first to fourth innerportions (6221, 6222, 6223, 6224) are integrally formed. Furthermore theinner connection portion (624) can minimize a phenomenon of generating arotation on any one or more of the first to fourth inner portions (6221,6222, 6223, 6224).

The inner connection portion (624) may be formed in a ring shape. Atthis time, a minor diameter of inner connection portion (624) maycorrespond to a diameter of the lens receptor (211). The innerconnection portion (624) may be so disposed as not to overlap with thelens receptor (211) to an optical axis direction. That is, the innerconnection portion (624) may be so disposed as not to affect an opticalpath connecting from the lens module to the image sensor.

The bottom elastic member (620) may further include an outer connectionportion (625) connecting the first outer portion (6211) to the secondouter portion (6212). The bottom elastic member (620) may include anouter connection portion (625) connecting the first to fourth outerportions (6211, 6212, 6213, 6214). The outer connection portion (625)may connect the first to fourth outer portions (6211, 6212, 6213, 6214).The outer connection portion (625) may connect each distal end of thefirst to fourth outer portions (6211, 6212, 6213, 6214). The outerconnection portion (625) may connect each end of the first to fourthouter portions (6211, 6212, 6213, 6214). In this case, a phenomenon ofgenerating a bending on any one or more of the first to fourth outerportions (6211, 6212, 6213, 6214) can be minimized over a case of beingindividually formed because the first to fourth inner portions (6211,6212, 6213, 6214) are integrally formed. Furthermore the outerconnection portion (625) can minimize a phenomenon of generating arotation on any one or more of the first to fourth inner portions (6211,6212, 6213, 6214).

At least one portion of the outer connection portion (625) may bedisposed at an outside of the driving magnet (320). The outer connectionportion (625) may be so disposed as not to vertically overlap with thedriving magnet (320). That is, the outer connection portion (625) may beso disposed as not to contact the driving magnet (320).

The first outer portion (6211) may include a first insertion hole(6215), a second insertion hole (6216) and a connection hole (6217).Furthermore, the first to fourth outer portions (6212, 6213, 6214) mayalso include a first insertion hole (6215), a second insertion hole(6216) and a connection hole (6217).

The outer portion (6211) may include a first insertion hole (6215)inserted by a first lug (3141) of the housing (310), a second insertionhole (6216) inserted by a second lug (3142) of the housing (310) andspaced apart from the first insertion hole (6215), and a connection hole(6217) connecting the first insertion hole (6215) and the secondinsertion hole (6216). That is, the first insertion hole (6215) may beinserted by the first lug (3141). The second insertion hole (6216) maybe inserted by the second lug (3142). In other words, the first outerportion (6211) may be doubly coupled by the first lug (3141) and thesecond lug (3142) relative to the housing (310). The connection hole(6217) may connect the first insertion hole (6215) and the secondinsertion hole (6216). A width of connection hole (6217) may be smallerthan that of the first insertion hole (6215) and that of the secondinsertion hole (6216). At least one portion of the connection hole(6217) may be disposed with a fused area of more than any one of thefirst lug (3141) and the second lug (3142), through which a phenomenonof the first outer portion (6211) being rotated can be inhibited.

The first inner portion (6221) may include a coupling hole (6225) and arotation prevention hole (6226). Furthermore, the second to fourth innerportions (6222, 6223, 6224) may also include a coupling hole (6225) anda rotation prevention hole (6226).

The first inner portion (6221) may include a coupling hole (6225)inserted by a coupling lug (2141) of bobbin (210), and a rotationprevention hole (6226) inserted by a rotation prevention lug (2142) ofbobbin (210) and spaced apart from the coupling hole (6225). Therotation prevention lug (2142) may be disposed at a farther outside thanthe coupling lug (2141). The first inner portion (6221) may be inhibitedfrom rotation because of being also fixed by the rotation prevention lug(2142) in addition to the coupling lug (2141) coupled by fusion relativeto the bobbin (210).

The lateral support member (630) may be coupled at one side to thestator (400), and coupled at the other side to the upper elastic member(610) and/or housing (310). The lateral support member (630) may becoupled at one side to the stator (400) and coupled at the other side tothe upper elastic member (610), for example. Furthermore, in anotherexample, the lateral support member (630) may be coupled at one side tothe stator (400) and coupled at the other side to the housing (310),through which the lateral support member (630) can elastically supportthe second move (300) in order to allow the second mover (300) tohorizontally move or tilt. The lateral support member (630) may includea plurality of wires, for example. Alternatively, the lateral supportmember (630) may include a plurality of leaf springs as a modification.

The lateral support member (630) may be electrically connected at an endof one side with the circuit member (420) and may be electricallyconnected at an end of the other side with the upper elastic member(610). The lateral support member (630) may be formed in the same numberas that of the upper elastic member (610), for example. That is, thelateral support member (630) may be formed with six (6) pieces and maybe respectively connected to the upper elastic member (610) formed withsix (6) pieces. In this case, the lateral support member (630) maysupply, to each piece of the upper elastic member (610), a powersupplied from the stator (400) or from outside. The lateral supportmember (630) may be determined in the number thereof in consideration ofsymmetry, for example. The lateral support member (630) may be formed ina total of eight (8) pieces, each two pieces on the edge portion of thehousing (310), for example. The lateral support member (630) may includefirst to eighth lateral support parts (631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 637,638), each mutually spaced apart from the other. The first lateralsupport part (631) may be electrically connected to a first upperelastic unit (6101), the second lateral support part (632) may beelectrically connected to a second upper elastic unit (6102), the thirdlateral support part (633) may be electrically connected to a thirdupper elastic unit (6103), the fourth lateral support part (634) may beelectrically connected to a fourth upper elastic unit (6104), the fifthlateral support part (635) may be electrically connected to a fifthupper elastic unit (6105), and the sixth lateral support part (636) maybe electrically connected to a sixth upper elastic unit (6106).

The lateral support member (630) or the upper elastic member (610) mayinclude a shock absorption portion (not shown) for absorbing a shock,for example. The shock absorption portion may be disposed on at leastany one or more of the lateral support member (630) and the upperelastic member (610). The shock absorption portion may be a separatemember like a damper. Furthermore, the shock absorption portion may berealized through shape change of any one or more of the lateral supportmember (630) and the upper elastic member (610). That is, the shockabsorption portion may be implemented by a portion of the lateralsupport member (630) or the upper elastic member (610) being bent in azigzag manner, or in a coil spring shape manner.

The sensor portion (700) may be used for any one or more of the autofocusing feedback and OIS feedback. The sensor portion (700) may detectthe position or movement of any one or more of the first mover (200) andthe second mover (300).

The sensor portion (700) may include a first sensor portion (710) and asecond sensor (720), for example. The first sensor portion (710) mayprovide information for AF feedback by sensing a vertical movement ofbobbin relative to the housing (310). The second sensor (720) mayprovide information for OIS feedback by detecting a horizontal movementor tilt of second mover (300).

The first sensor portion (710) may include a first sensor, a substrate(712) and a sensing magnet (715), for example. The first sensor may bedisposed on the housing (310). The first sensor may be disposed at anupper surface of housing (310). At this time, the sensing magnet (715)may be disposed at an upper surface of bobbin (210). The first sensormay be mounted on the substrate (712). The first sensor may be disposedon the housing (310) while being mounted on the substrate (712). Thefirst sensor may detect the position or movement of bobbin (210). Thefirst sensor may detect the position or movement of bobbin (210) bydetecting the sensing magnet (715) disposed on the bobbin (210). Thefirst sensor may be a Hall sensor detecting the magnetic force of amagnet, for example. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto.

The substrate (712) may be mounted with a first sensor. The substrate(712) may be disposed on the housing (310). The substrate (712) may beelectrically conducted to the upper elastic member (610), through whichthe substrate (712) may supply a power to the first sensor andtransmit/receive information or signals from the controller. Thesubstrate (712) may include a terminal portion (713). The terminalportion (713) may be electrically connected by the upper elastic member(610). To be more specific, four (4) terminals of the terminal portions(713) may be electrically connected to the first to fourth upper elasticunits (6101, 6102, 6103, 6104) in a pair. The terminal portion (713) maybe so arranged as to face an upper side, for example. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto.

The sensing magnet (715) may be disposed on the bobbin (210). The lensdriving device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention may further comprise a compensation magnet (716) disposed onthe bobbin (210) and positioned symmetrically to the sensing magnet(715) based on a center of the bobbin (210). The compensation magnet(716) may be so arranged as to realize a magnetic force balance with thesensing magnet (715). That is, the compensation magnet (716) may be soarranged as to solve the magnetic force imbalance generated by thesensing magnet (715). The sensing magnet (715) may be disposed at oneside of bobbin (210), and the compensation magnet (716) may be disposedat the other side of bobbin (210).

The second sensor (720) may be disposed on the stator (400). The secondsensor (720) may be disposed at an upper surface or a bottom surface ofsubstrate (410). The second sensor (720) may be disposed at a bottomsurface of substrate (410) and positioned at a sensor accommodationportion (433) formed at the base (430). The second sensor (720) mayinclude a Hall sensor, for example. In this case, the second sensor maysense a movement of second mover (300) relative to the stator (400) bysensing a magnetic field of the driving magnet (320). The second sensor(720) may be formed with more than two (2) pieces, for example, todetect both the x axis and y axis movements of the second mover (300).Meantime, the second sensor (720) may so positioned as not to verticallyoverlap with the OIS driving coil (422).

Hereinafter, an effect of lens driving device according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, a ‘leg’ may be usedin order to call both the inner portion (620) and the elastic portion(623) of the bottom elastic member (620).

In a modification according to a first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, as in the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the inner connection portion (624) connecting the first tofourth inner portions (6221, 6222, 6223, 6224) may be formed during themanufacturing and delivery of the product in order to inhibit shapes offirst to fourth elastic portions (6231, 6232, 6233, 6234). However, inthe modification in the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the inner connection portion (624) may be removed when apress process for coupling the bottom elastic member (620) to the bobbin(210) and the housing (310) is completed.

As mentioned in the first exemplary embodiment of the present inventiondisposed with an inner connection portion (624), when compared with themodification of the first exemplary embodiment removed of the innerconnection portion (624), all end portions of four legs are allconnected in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,such that legs are not individually swayed, but in the modificationaccording to the first exemplary embodiment, each of the four legs maybe swayed or moved. When the bottom elastic member (620) according tothe modification of the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention is seen by being divided, albeit being difficult to ascertainby naked eye, there may be generated a fine miniscule bending of 10˜20μm, and in this case, there is a high probability of generating a statictilt due to imbalanced force of four legs. Particularly, in themodification of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,length of leg is long, such that there is a high risk of deformation ata start point {an area where the outer portion (621) and the elasticportion (623) meet} of leg. That is, the first exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention can minimize generation of static tilt byinhibiting deformation of legs which has been problematic in themodification.

Hereinafter, configuration of lens driving device according to a secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 7 is a plane view illustrating some elements of a lens drivingdevice according to a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 8 is an expanded view illustrating some elements of alens driving device in FIG. 7 according to a second exemplary embodimentof the present invention, FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating someelements of a lens driving device according to a second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a perspective viewillustrating some elements of a lens driving device according to amodification of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating some elements of a lensdriving device according to another modification of a second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a perspective viewillustrating some elements of a lens driving device according to stillanother modification of a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

The lens driving device according to the second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may include a cover member (100), a first mover(200), a second mover (300), a stator (400), a support member (600) anda sensor portion (700). However, any one or more of the cover member(100), the first mover (200), the second mover (300), the stator (400),the support member (600) and the sensor portion (700) may be omitted orchanged from the lens driving device according to the present exemplaryembodiment. Particularly, the sensor portion (700) may be omittedbecause the sensor portion (700) is a configuration for auto focusfeedback and/or OIS feedback functions.

However, configuration of the lens driving device in the secondexemplary embodiment corresponding to that of the first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may be inferably applied using theexplanation in the aforementioned first exemplary embodiment.Hereinafter, the second exemplary embodiment will be explained centeredon differences from the first exemplary embodiment.

The housing (310) may include a coupling lug (316) and a guide lug (317)spaced apart from the coupling lug (316).

The coupling lug (316) may be protruded from a first surface of thehousing (310). To be more specific, the coupling lug (316) may beprotruded from an upper surface of the housing (310) to an upper side.The coupling lug (316) may be inserted into a coupling hole (615) of theupper elastic member (610). The coupling lug (316) may be fused whilebeing inserted into the coupling hole (615) of the upper elastic member(610). In this case, the fused coupling lug (316) may fix the upperelastic member (610) to an upper surface of the housing (310).

The guide lug (317) may be spaced apart from the coupling lug (316). Theguide lug (317) may be protruded from a first surface of the housing(310). To be more specific, the guide lug (317) may be protrudedupwardly from an upper surface of the housing (310). The guide lug (317)may be inserted into a guide hole (616) of the upper elastic member(610). The guide lug (317) may have a smaller diameter than that of thecoupling lug (316), for example. Furthermore, height of the guide lug(317) may be lower than that of the coupling lug (316). However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. The guide lug (317) mayinhibit the upper elastic member (610) fixed to the housing (310) by thecoupling lug (316) from rotating.

The upper elastic member may include a round portion (614) formed in around manner on a corner. At this time, the round portion (614) may becalled a “first round portion” in order to distinguish from a roundportion (830) of the guide portion (800). The round portion (614) of theupper elastic member (610) may have a curvature corresponding to that ofround portion (830) of the guide portion (800).

The upper elastic member (610) may include a coupling hole (615) and aguide hole (616). The coupling hole (615) may be so formed as tovertically pass through a portion of the upper elastic member (610). Thecoupling hole (615) may be inserted by a coupling lug (316) of housing(310). That is, a width of the coupling hole (615) may be greater than awidth of the coupling lug (316) as much as a predetermined size. Thecoupling hole (615) may have a round shape. However, the presentinvention is not limited thereto.

The guide hole (616) may be spaced apart from the coupling hole (615).The guide hole (616) may be so formed as to vertically pass through aportion of the upper elastic member (610). The guide hole (616) may beinserted by the guide lug (317) of the housing (310). That is, a widthof the guide hole (616) may be greater than a width of the guide lug(317) as much as a predetermined size. The guide hole (616) may have around shape. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The upper elastic member (610) and the housing (310) may be doublycoupled by the coupling between the coupling hole (615) and the couplinglug (316) and the coupling between the guide hole (616) and the guidelug (317) to thereby inhibit the upper elastic member (610) fromrotating relative to the housing (310).

The lens driving device according to the second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may include a guide portion (800) disposed at thehousing (310) to upwardly protrude between a first upper elastic unit(6101) and a second upper elastic unit (6102). However, the guideportion (800) may be disposed between a third upper elastic unit (6103)and a fourth upper elastic unit (6104). The guide portion (800) mayinhibit a short-circuited phenomenon caused by contact between the firstupper elastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit (6102)because of being disposed between the first upper elastic unit (6101)used as a conductive line and a second upper elastic unit (6102).

The guide portion (800) may directly contact any one or more of thefirst upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit(6102). The guide portion (800) may inhibit twist and rotation of thefirst upper elastic unit (6101) and/or the second upper elastic unit(6102) by directly contacting at least a portion of the first upperelastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit (6102).

The first upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit(6102) may be spaced apart in order to be used as a conductive line of amember electrically conductive with the terminal portion (713) ofsubstrate (712) at the first sensor portion (710). However, each of thefirst upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit(6102), which are separable elements spaced apart from each other, istoo small and minuscule and therefore it is difficult to be fixed to thehousing (310). Thus, each of the first upper elastic unit (6101) and thesecond upper elastic unit (6102) tends to be twisted in the course ofbeing fixed by fusing the coupling lug (316) of the housing (310), andalso tends to be twisted in the course of soldering the terminal portion(713) of the substrate (712). In the second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, the guide portion (800) can inhibit the twist androtation of the first upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upperelastic unit (6102) by being directly contacted on at least a portion ofthe first upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit(6102).

The guide portion (800) may be disposed at an area where a distance isshortest between the first upper elastic unit (6101) and the secondupper elastic unit (6102) in a space between the first upper elasticunit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit (6102).

Furthermore, the guide portion (800) may be disposed only at an areawhere a distance is shortest between the first upper elastic unit (6101)and the second upper elastic unit (6102) in a space between the firstupper elastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit (6102). Inthis case, the guide portion (800) can inhibit the short-circuitphenomenon by allowing the contact between the first upper elastic unit(6101) and the second upper elastic unit (6102) to be minimized.

A height of the guide portion (800) may be greater than a thickness ofthe first upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit(6102). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and theguide portion (800) may be formed with any height as long as mutualcontact of the first upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upperelastic unit (6102) can be inhibited, and twist and rotation of thefirst upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit (6102)can be inhibited.

The guide portion (800) may include a partition portion (810) interposedbetween the first upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upper elasticunit (6102), and an extension portion (820) extended along a peripheryof the housing (310) from an outside end of the partition portion (810).

The partition portion (810) may be interposed between the first upperelastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit (6102). Thepartition portion (810) may contact any one or more of the first upperelastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit (6102). Thepartition portion (810) may take a shape corresponding to an oppositesurface of the first upper elastic unit (6101) and the second upperelastic unit (6102).

The extension portion (820) may be extended along a periphery of thehousing (310) from an outside end of the partition portion (810). Thatis, the extension portion (820) may form a portion of periphery of thehousing (310). The partition portion (810) and the extension portion(820) may be orthogonally formed. However, even in this case, an areawhere the partition portion (810) and the extension portion (820) meetmay be formed in a round shape by the round portion (830).

The guide portion (800) may include a round portion (830) formed at anarea where the partition portion (810) and the extension portion (820)meet. At this time, the round portion (830) may be called a ‘secondround portion’ in order to be distinguished from the first round portion(614) of the upper elastic member (610). The second round portion (830)may have a curvature corresponding to that of the first round portion(614). The second round portion (830) can inhibit twist and rotation ofthe upper elastic member (610) by directly contacting the first roundportion (614) on at least a portion thereof.

Although the foregoing has explained that the guide portion (800) isinterposed between the first upper elastic unit (6101) and the secondupper elastic unit (6102), the position of the guide portion (800) isnot limited thereto. That is, the guide portion (800) may be disposedbetween more than two of the first to sixth elastic units (6101, 6102,6103, 6104, 6105, 6106), the bottom elastic member (620) and the lateralsupport member (630).

The lens driving device according to a modification of the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention may be such that thepartition portion (810) is divided to a first partition wall (811) and asecond partition wall (812), which is different from the lens drivingdevice according to the second exemplary embodiment where the partitionportion (810) is integrally formed.

The partition portion (810) in the modification of the second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may include a first partition wall(811) and a second partition wall (812) spaced apart from the firstpartition wall (811). The first partition wall (811) and the secondpartition wall (812) may be disposed on both distal ends of the outerportion (611) of the upper elastic member (610). That is, the firstpartition wall (811) may be disposed at an end of the outer portion(611) at the upper elastic member (610) while the second partition wall(812) may be disposed at the other end of the outer portion (611) at theupper elastic member (610). However, the present invention is notlimited thereto, and the partition portion (810) according to themodification of the second exemplary embodiment of the present inventionmay include a slimming structure, and may be arranged in any structureand in any shape as long as twist and rotation of the first upperelastic unit (6101) and the second upper elastic unit (6102) can beinhibited.

The lens driving device according to another modification of the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a cut-offportion (617). That is, the lens driving device according to anothermodification of the second exemplary embodiment of the present inventionmay be different from the previous exemplary embodiment in that a guidehole (616) is omitted and instead, a cut-off portion (617) is formed. Tobe more specific, the lens driving device according to anothermodification of the second exemplary embodiment of the present inventionmay include a coupling lug (316) upwardly protruded from an uppersurface of housing (310), a coupling hole (615) so formed as to passthrough the upper elastic member (610) and inserted by the coupling lug(316), and a cut-off portion (617) extended from the coupling hole (615)to one side. At this time, when the coupling lug (316) is fused whilebeing inserted into the coupling hole (615), at least one portion of thefused coupling lug (316) may be accommodated in the cut-off portion(617). In this case, the upper elastic member (610) may be inhibitedfrom rotating by the fused portion of the coupling lug (316)accommodated into the cut-off portion (617).

The lens driving device according to still another modification of thesecond exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a guideportion (800 a) interposed between the second upper elastic unit (6102)and a third upper elastic unit (6103). That is, lens driving deviceaccording to still another modification of the second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may be different from the secondexemplary embodiment in that the position of the guide portion (800 a)is changed. To be more specific, the guide portion (800 a) according tostill another modification of the second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention may be disposed between the second upper elastic unit(6102) and the third upper elastic unit (6103). That is, the guideportion (800 a) can inhibit the twist and rotation of the second upperelastic unit (6102) and the third upper elastic unit (6103) bycontacting the second upper elastic unit (6102) and the third upperelastic unit (6103). Furthermore, guide portion (800 a) can inhibit theshort-circuit phenomenon caused by contact between the second upperelastic unit (6102) and the third upper elastic unit (6103).

Hereinafter, a lens driving device according to a third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a state of a cover memberbeing omitted from a lens driving device according to a third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a lateral viewillustrating a state of some elements being omitted as seen of FIG. 13from a lateral surface, FIG. 15 is an expanded view illustrating a stateof some elements being expanded in FIG. 13 , FIG. 16 is an expanded viewillustrating some elements of a lens driving device according to amodification of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention,and FIGS. 17 and 18 are expanded views illustrating some elements beingexpanded from a lens driving device according to another modification ofa third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The lens driving device according to a third exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention may include a cover member (100), a first mover (200),a second mover (300), a stator (400), a support member (600) and asensor portion (700). However, any one or more of the cover member(100), the first mover (200), the second mover (300), the stator (400),the support member (600) and the sensor portion (700) may be omitted orchanged from the lens driving device according to the present exemplaryembodiment. Particularly, the sensor portion (700) may be omittedbecause the sensor portion (700) is a configuration for auto focusfeedback and/or OIS feedback functions.

However, configuration of the lens driving device in the third exemplaryembodiment corresponding to that of the first exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may be inferably applied using the explanation inthe aforementioned first exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, the thirdexemplary embodiment will be explained centered on differences from thefirst exemplary embodiment.

The lens driving device according to the third exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may include a support member receptor (900)disposed at the housing (310) to accommodate at least a portion of thelateral support member (630).

The first and second lateral support portions (631, 632) accommodatedinto the support member receptor (900) may contact a damper portion (notshown) integrally coated on the support member receptor (900). That is,the first and second lateral support portions (631, 632) accommodatedinto the support member receptor (900) may be integrally coated with thedamper. In other words, the first and second lateral support portions(631, 632) accommodated into the support member receptor (900) may becoated with the damper through a single process. That is, working hourscan be shortened over a case where the damper is coated on each of thefirst and second lateral support portions (631, 632). The damperaccording to the present exemplary embodiment may be coated in order tocontrol resonance of the lateral support member (600).

The first and second lateral support portions (631, 632), when viewedfrom a lateral side of the housing (310), may be so arranged as to allowan area accommodated into the support member receptor (900) of the firstand second lateral support portions (631, 632) to be viewed altogether.That is, the support member receptor (900), when viewed from a lateralside of the housing (310), may be so arranged as to expose all the firstand second lateral support portions (631, 632). In other words, thefirst and second lateral support portions (631, 632) may be insertedinto a single hole altogether at the same time. When the first andsecond lateral support portions (631, 632) are simultaneously viewed asexplained above, the damper can be coated with a single process, and thedamper can be cured or hardened through a single process using a UVirradiation. That is, loss of working hours for damping operation can bereduced and a process for curing the damper can be simplified by thethird exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The support member receptor (900) may include a staircase portion (910)formed by being relatively more protruded at a bottom surface over at anupper surface. At this time, the staircase portion (910) may be called a‘first staircase portion (910)’ in order to distinguish from staircases(930, 840, described later). The staircase portion (910) may be coatedwith the damper portion. That is, the staircase portion (910) may be soformed as to inhibit the damper from flowing down. The support memberreceptor (900) may minimize the flowing-down of damper using thestaircase portion (910). The staircase portion (910) may be formed at anopen area of the housing (310) lest a damper solution be permeateddownwardly. The damper solution can be captured at an area passed by thelateral support member (630) using the staircase portion (910).

The support member receptor (900) may include a first receptor part(901) disposed at a first edge portion (3105) of the housing (310), asecond receptor part (902) disposed at a second edge portion (3106), athird receptor part (903) disposed at a third edge portion (3107) and afourth receptor part (904) disposed at a fourth edge portion (3108). Atthis time, the first to eighth lateral support portions (631, 632, 633,634, 635, 636, 637, 638) may be arranged, two each at the first tofourth receptor parts (901, 802, 803, 804). That is, the first andsecond lateral support portions (631, 632) may be disposed at the firstreceptor part (901), the third and fourth receptor parts (633, 634) maybe disposed at the second receptor part (902), the fifth and sixthlateral support portions (635, 636) may be disposed at the thirdreceptor part (903) and the seventh and eighth lateral support portions(637, 638) may be disposed at the fourth receptor part (904). That is,eight lateral support portions may be accommodated into four receptorparts.

The first receptor part (901) may be formed with a first receptor groove(9011) accommodated by the first lateral support portion (631), and asecond receptor groove (9012) accommodated by the second lateral supportportion (632). At this time, the support member receptor (900) mayinclude a partition wall (9013) interposed between the first receptorgroove (9011) and the second receptor groove (9012). At this time, atleast a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the partition wall(9013) may be positioned on a farther inside than the first and secondlateral support portions (631, 632) or may be positioned on a sameplanar surface, through which the first and second lateral supportportions (631, 632) can be simultaneously contacted to the damper coatedon the partition wall (9013).

The first receptor groove (9011) may include a slant portion (920) wherea width is gradually broadened from an upper side to a bottom side on atleast a portion of the first receptor groove (9011). At this time, theslant portion (920) may be called a ‘first slant portion (920)’ in orderto distinguish from a slant portion (950, described later). The slantportion (920) may be so formed as to minimize the flowing-down of damperalong an outer peripheral surface of housing (310) forming the firstreceptor groove (9011). That is, the slant portion (920) can minimizethe flowing-down of damper flowing down along the outer peripheralsurface of housing (310) that forms the first receptor groove (9011).

The lens driving device according to a modification of the thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include astaircase portion (930) formed at an outer peripheral surface of thepartition wall (9013). At this time, the staircase portion (930) may becalled a ‘second staircase portion (930)’ in order to distinguish thepreviously mentioned first staircase portion (910). The staircaseportion (930) may be formed on an outer peripheral surface of partitionwall (9013). The staircase portion (930) may be so formed as to allow abottom surface to be relatively more protruded than an upper surface.That is, the staircase portion (930) may be so formed in a shape as tominimize the flowing-down of damper to an area where the damper iscoated. The outer peripheral surface of partition wall (9013)corresponding to an upper side of the staircase portion (930) may bedisposed at a farther inside than an imaginary plane formed by the firstand second lateral support portions (631, 632), whereby all the firstand second lateral support portions (631, 632) can be contacted to thedamper disposed at an upper side of the staircase portion (930).

The lens driving device according to another modification of the thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include astaircase portion (940) formed at the second receptor groove (9012). Atthis time, the staircase portion (940) may be called a ‘third staircaseportion (940)’ in order to distinguish the previously mentioned firstand second staircase portions (910, 830). The staircase portion (940)may be so formed as to allow a bottom surface to be relatively moreprotruded than an upper surface. That is, the staircase portion (940)may be so formed in a shape as to minimize the flowing-down of dampercoated on the upper surface.

Furthermore, lens driving device according to another modification ofthe third exemplary embodiment of the present invention may furtherinclude a slant portion (950) formed at the first receptor groove(9011). At this time, the slant portion (950) may be called a ‘secondslant portion (950)’ in order to distinguish from the previous firstslant portion (920). The second slant portion (950) may be so formed asto allow a width or a diameter to grow larger from an upper side to abottom side. The second slant portion (950) may be extended from anupper end of the first receptor groove (9011) to the first slant portion(920). The second slant portion (950) may inhibit the damper solutionfrom flowing down in terms of processing by forming an upper end to benarrower, and forming a bottom surface to be broader.

Hereinafter, operation of camera module according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the auto focus function of camera module according to anexemplary embodiment will be described. When a power is supplied to theAF driving coil (220), the AF driving coil (220) performs a movementrelative to the driving magnet (320) in response to the electromagneticinteraction between the AF driving coil (220) and the driving magnet(320). At this time, the bobbin (210) coupled by the AF driving coil(220) integrally moves with the AF driving coil (220). That is, thebobbin (210) coupled to an inside of the lens module vertically moves tothe housing (310). The vertical movement of bobbin (210) results in themovement in which the lens module comes near to the image sensor ordistances from the image sensor, whereby the focus control can beperformed to an object by supplying a power to a coil on the AF drivingcoil (220) according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Meantime, an auto focus feedback may be applied in order to implement amore accurate realization of auto focus function in the camera moduleaccording to the present invention. The first sensor formed on thehousing (310) and provided as a Hall sensor detects a magnetic field ofthe sensing magnet (715) fixed to the bobbin (210). Hence, when thebobbin (210) performs a relative movement to the housing (310), anamount of magnetic field detected by the first sensor may be changed.The first sensor detects the movement to z axis direction or theposition of the bobbin (210) using the thus-mentioned method andtransmits a received detection value to the controller. The controllerdetermines whether to perform an additional movement to the bobbin (210)through the received detection value. These series of processes aregenerated in real time, whereby the auto focus function of the cameramodule according to the present exemplary embodiment can be moreaccurately performed through the auto focus feedback.

Now, the OIS function of camera module according to the exemplaryembodiment will be described. When a power is supplied to the OISdriving coil (422), the driving magnet (320) performs a movementrelative to the OIS driving coil (422) through the electromagneticinteraction between the OIS driving coil (422) and the driving magnet(320). At this time, the housing (310) coupled by the driving magnet(320) integrally moves with the driving magnet (320). That is, thehousing (310) horizontally moves relative to the base (430). However, atthis time, the housing (310) may be induced of tilt relative to the base(430). At this time, the bobbin (210) also moves integrally with thehousing (310). Hence, the aforementioned movement of the housing (310)results in the lens module moving to a direction relative to the imagesensor parallel to a direction where the image sensor is placed, suchthat the OIS function can be implemented by supplying a power to the OISdriving coil (422) in the present exemplary embodiment.

Meantime, in order to perform a more accurate realization of OISfunction on the camera module according to the present exemplaryembodiment, an OIS feedback may be applied. The one pair of secondsensors (720) mounted on the base (430) and provided in the form of Hallsensor detects a magnetic field of a magnet at the driving magnet (320)fixed to the housing (310). Thus, when the housing (310) performs arelative movement to the base (430), the amount of magnetic fielddetected by the second sensor (720) can be changed. The pair of secondsensors (720) detects the horizontal movement (x axis and y axisdirections) or the position of the housing (310) using thethus-mentioned method and transmits a received detection value to thecontroller. The controller determines whether to perform an additionalmovement to the housing (310) through the received detection value.These series of processes are generated in real time, whereby the OISfunction of the camera module according to the present exemplaryembodiment can be more accurately performed through the OIS feedback.

Although the present disclosure has been explained with all constituentelements forming the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosurebeing combined in one embodiment, or being operated in one embodiment,the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, in some cases,the described features, structures, or operations may be combined in anysuitable manner in one or more embodiments. It will also be readilyunderstood that the components of the embodiments, as generallydescribed and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged anddesigned in a wide variety of different configurations.

Terms used in the specification are only provided to illustrate theembodiments and should not be construed as limiting the scope and spiritof the present disclosure. In the specification, a singular form ofterms includes plural forms thereof, unless specifically mentionedotherwise. In the term “includes”, “including”, “comprises” and/or“comprising” as used herein, the mentioned component, step, operationand/or device is not excluded from presence or addition of one or moreother components, steps, operations and/or devices.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientificterms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized oroverly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims.

Although the abovementioned embodiments according to the presentinvention have been described in detail with reference to the abovespecific examples, the embodiments are, however, intended to beillustrative only, and thereby do not limit the scope of protection ofthe present invention. Thereby, it should be appreciated by the skilledin the art that changes, modifications and amendments to the aboveexamples may be made without deviating from the scope of protection ofthe invention.

1. A lens driving device comprising: a housing; a bobbin disposed in thehousing; a first coil disposed on the bobbin; a first magnet disposed onthe housing; and an upper elastic member connecting the housing and thebobbin, wherein the upper elastic member comprises a first upper elasticunit and a second upper elastic unit spaced apart from each other,wherein the upper elastic member comprises an outer portion disposed onan upper surface of the housing, an inner portion coupled to the bobbin,and an elastic portion connecting the outer portion and the innerportion, wherein the housing comprises a first protrusion protrudingfrom the upper surface of the housing, and wherein the first protrusionis disposed between the first upper elastic unit and the second upperelastic unit in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axisdirection.